Inside Report (3)

October 30, 1981

The AFL-CIO has quietly taken another step away from the Democratic Party. The views of Jack Perkins, the new -director of the federation's political action program, COPE, are closely in line with AFL-CIO president Lane Kirkland, who -opposes linking labor too closely and too -exclusively with the Democrats. He -replaces Alexander Barkan, whose views during his 18 years as director often led to disputes with the Democrats' national -leadership. Barkan particularly opposed efforts to weaken the control of party regulars by giving more voice to minority and other liberal groups.

Lane Kirkland and Thomas Donahue, president and secretary--treasurer of AFL-CIO, now will strongly influence the federation's -political action.